Without a doubt, the most influential book in my life has been the Bible. From the moment I was born, this piece of literature has affected me directly and indirectly. My code of ethics is a result of this book which has been reinforced by my parents and weekly church services. Certainly, my life, along with modern history, would be drastically different without the Bible.
For this assignment, however, I am limiting the broad category of influential books to only those I have fully completed while focusing on the books that have had literary influence. With these restrictions, the books that have had the greatest influence on my development are the Harry Potter books, by J.K Rowling. As a whole, this seven book series has had an enormous impact on my life. If I were to narrow it down to a single book though, it would be the first in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
I first read the book when I was seven years old. The significance of this book is that it was a turning point in my literary career. Before I entered the world of Harry Potter, my library consisted of straightforward children's books like; Geronimo Stilton, Magic Tree House, and Henry and Mudge. Harry Potter was the first “real” book I encountered. As a seven year old, it was complex enough that I frequently enlisted the help of my mother to understand the seemingly complex plotline and diction.
In addition to being influential as the gateway to more difficult literature, J.K. Rowling’s series impacted my life by developing my love for books. This was the first book that I really enjoyed to read. I would stay up late, sometimes with my mom, pouring over the pages of the book, eager to dive into the wizarding world. As soon as I finished the first book, I began Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I enjoyed this book to the extent that when I played with my neighbors and brothers, we pretended to be characters from the book, coming up with our own adventures.
Moreover, I developed a love for reading from the Harry Potter series. After I had completed the series, I began to read the ten book Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale. The reason I read these books was because its fantastical elements reminded me of Harry Potter. Likewise, I read the book Eragon by Christopher Paolini and its three sequels because it was in the genre of books I liked, established by Harry Potter. It is unlikely I would have read these books, or many others, if it hadn’t have been for Harry Potter.
Aside from making me a better reader and encouraging me to read more, Harry Potter has been very influential on my life. I have read the series all the way through three times and have picked up on new things each time. The series has become nostalgic as it has encompassed a large portion of childhood with both the books and the movies.
Throughout my several readings of the books, I gained an appreciation for the literary merit of the book. From my first reading, I was engrossed in the plot. The book is fast paced with an easy to follow plot. The later books build on this making the plot even more rich by adding layers to what is happening. Similarly the characters in the book are very interesting and well-developed. Being of similar age, I was able to relate to Harry. At Hogwarts, he faced similar issues as me such as school and friends. Because of this connection, his adventures became more exciting as I could envision myself in them. As I got older, I began to appreciate the supporting characters such as Severus Snape and Sirius Black who initially seemed less important than Harry. I currently believe that one of the major reasons the series is successful is because of the plethora of interesting side characters. Furthermore, the setting of Hogwarts castle and other places like Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest is extremely well-developed. Rowling did such a good job with the setting that Universal Studios recreated it in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction at Universal Studios, which I recently visited.
Additionally, the first installment of Harry Potter utilizes symbolism. While I would probably view Gryffindor symbolizing good and Slytherin symbolizing bad as basic or the wands representing individuals’ personalities as obvious today, it is complex enough for the target audience of children and young adults. Similarly, Rowling’s writing style is straightforward with simple diction and easy to follow narrative. While I may critique it today, it is ideal for the intended readers.
Lastly, the Harry Potter Series has influenced my life as a result of its larger themes that taught me lessons. First, the book emphasized the importance of love. Despite Voldemort’s power, Lily’s love for her son was able to protect Harry from being killed. As a second grader, I was able to see that the relationship I had with my family was significant and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Another important theme of the book is that death should not be feared. In The Sorcerer's Stone Dumbledore says, “Death is but the next great adventure” (Rowling 215). Moreover, Voldemort, the villain, becomes distorted and corrupted while trying to cheat death. Meanwhile, Harry is able to see through a magic mirror that his parents are by his side, even after death. These ideas are in line with the Christian idea of heaven and life after death that I was taught growing up.
In conclusion, the Harry Potter series had a significant impact on my life both in reading and my development. Besides having a large influence on my life, I consider the Harry Potter series to be some of my favorite books of all time. I would highly recommend the series to young readers as I believe they had a profoundly positive impact on my life.
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